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Kidney Week

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Abstract: FR-PO331

Online Peer Mentoring and Quality of Life Among Patients with CKD

Session Information

Category: CKD (Non-Dialysis)

  • 2102 CKD (Non-Dialysis): Clinical, Outcomes, and Trials

Authors

  • Lopez, Eric Mark J., Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Ezeji, George Chinedu, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Romeu, Jose C., Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Bartolomeo, Korey, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Chinchilli, Vernon M., Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Ghahramani, Nasrollah, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Background

Quality of Life (QOL) is an important medical outcome in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Peer mentoring (PM) is a potentially effective intervention to improve QOL. This study evaluates the differences in the effect of online PM, face-to-face (FTF) PM and usual care on QOL patients with CKD.

Methods

A total of 155 patients with stage 4 or stage 5 CKD were randomly assigned either to online PM (n=52), FTF PM (n=52) or usual care (n=51). Online PM consisted of at least weekly communication through an interactive online platform, and more frequently through posts initiated by the patient. For the FTF group, the frequency of contact by a mentor was weekly by phone and monthly FTF visit. PM was maintained for at least 6 months. Usual care participants received a printed copy of an information handbook and were encouraged to discuss questions with their care team. All participants completed the Short Form Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) tool designed specifically for patients with CKD, at baseline, at 12 months and at 18 months. We used linear mixed effect models to estimate the slope of change of subsets of KDQOL score over time. SAS, version 9.4 was used for data analysis.

Results

A total of 117 patients completed the 18 month assessment. Baseline KDQOL scores and demographic characteristics were similar among the 3 groups. Among the online PM group, there was a significant improvement in the following components of the KDQOL score: Effects of Kidney Disease (EKD) (Slope estimate [SE]:4.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.87, 7.4 [P=0.01]); Burden of Kidney Disease (BKD) (SE:5.44; CI: 1.24, 9.64 [P= 0.01]);SF-12 Physical Composite (SE:2.50; CI:0.95, 4.06 [P=0.002]); SF-12 Mental Composite (SE:3.46; CI:1.78, 5.13 [P<0.0001]). In subgroup analyses, the improvements noted among the online PM in the EKD and BKD subscales were significant among white patients, but not among non-white patients. The improvements in the Physical and Mental Composite subscales were significant among non-white patients, but not among white patients. There were no statistically significant changes in KDQOL scores among the FTF PM group and the control group.

Conclusion

Online PM is associated with improved scores in subsets of the KDQOL among patients with advanced CKD. This improvement is influenced by race.

Funding: PCORI

Funding

  • Other U.S. Government Support